Review/Giveaway: Burning by JM Gregoire

Title: Burning
Series: A Demon Legacy Short Story
Author: JM Gregoire
Published: October 2012
Format: Ebook provided by author for review

Lucas was a typical playboy - lots of alcohol and a different girl every night. 

One woman brought his emotional walls and the beliefs he used to build them crumbling to the ground. 

Now, an unexpected visitor is going to change both their worlds forever. 

So Burning is a short story that is going to lead into a larger series called Demon Legacy.  Keeping that in mind, I feel like a reviewer must make a few concessions when reading.  For one thing, this story is about 13 pages long.  It is massively difficult to fit much story into that short of a span and keep the reader waiting for more.  But that’s what JM Gregoire did. I want to read more, and I will keep my eye for this series.

Burning is written in third person POV.  I really wish the story was a bit longer and a bit more detailed.  However, I really feel it served its purpose of giving some history for whats to come, and offering a bit of tease for the overall feel of the story. 

I really enjoyed Lucas, and felt he was a bit of the epitomical vampire.  He likes to have fun, but not monogamous long lasting fun.  Well, at least until he meets Natalia.  It always takes that one special woman to change that hard livin’ man, doesn’t it?

And Natalia is a terrific character too.  The author did a great job of making me care for both of these people in a short span of time. She seems to be a kind and caring person.

I think that Burningdefinitely sets the stage for what is to come.  I’m hoping the energy continues to stay amped up, and that new and interesting characters will be introduced.  And obviously, there’s Lucas.  I always love to see those leading men ;)

Follow JM Gregoire Online

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Giveaway: Open internationally until Oct 11, 2012.  Prize: 1 Ebook (pdf, epub or mobi) of Burning.  Winner has 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review/Giveaway: Burning by JM Gregoire

Title: Burning
Series: A Demon Legacy Short Story
Author: JM Gregoire
Published: October 2012
Format: Ebook provided by author for review

Lucas was a typical playboy - lots of alcohol and a different girl every night. 

One woman brought his emotional walls and the beliefs he used to build them crumbling to the ground. 

Now, an unexpected visitor is going to change both their worlds forever. 

So Burning is a short story that is going to lead into a larger series called Demon Legacy.  Keeping that in mind, I feel like a reviewer must make a few concessions when reading.  For one thing, this story is about 13 pages long.  It is massively difficult to fit much story into that short of a span and keep the reader waiting for more.  But that’s what JM Gregoire did. I want to read more, and I will keep my eye for this series.

Burning is written in third person POV.  I really wish the story was a bit longer and a bit more detailed.  However, I really feel it served its purpose of giving some history for whats to come, and offering a bit of tease for the overall feel of the story. 

I really enjoyed Lucas, and felt he was a bit of the epitomical vampire.  He likes to have fun, but not monogamous long lasting fun.  Well, at least until he meets Natalia.  It always takes that one special woman to change that hard livin’ man, doesn’t it?

And Natalia is a terrific character too.  The author did a great job of making me care for both of these people in a short span of time. She seems to be a kind and caring person.

I think that Burning definitely sets the stage for what is to come.  I’m hoping the energy continues to stay amped up, and that new and interesting characters will be introduced.  And obviously, there’s Lucas.  I always love to see those leading men ;)

Follow JM Gregoire Online

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Giveaway: Open internationally until Oct 11, 2012.  Prize: 1 Ebook (pdf, epub or mobi) of Burning.  Winner has 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review/Giveaway: The Monster Within by Lola Rayne

Title: The Monster Within
A Mounting Darkness Novel
Author: Lola Rayne
Published: October 2012
Format: Ebook received for review

Sometimes the monster that haunted you as a child truly is real...

All it took was one phone call to bring Nicole Jones's life crumbling down around her. Now a nightmare she thought she'd left in her past is back, and he's not exactly bringing her candy and flowers. While fleeing, in a non-terrified fashion, she meets a menacing man in a dark alley. Then promptly passes out at his feet.

Gideon Evans hasn't exactly been having the best run of luck, but all that changes when a buxom little blonde collapses right in front of him. Or at least he thinks it has. It doesn’t take him long to realize that bombshell is an appropriate description for more than just her looks. Now he's facing several problems, including a surprising enemy, his own dark past, and a rather inconvenient case of lust. 

Can they work together to battle the nightmare that's chasing them? Or will they succumb to the monster within?

First, let me say that Lola Rayne definitely has a sense of humor, and its wicked.  If you get the opportunity make sure you read her “Acknowledgements” and the “About the author” sections.  The way she speaks in these sections makes me think I want to hang out with her and do shots until someone gets arrested.

I have a habit of only reading partial blurbs.  I read until I find something I like, then I read the book.  I often get surprised by the content inside.  That’s I was with this book, surprised by the content.  This book morphs into several things which I didn’t expect from the minute portion of the blurb I read.  I didn’t expect the fantastic high heat, the action, or the awesome paranormal aspext.  This story was full of terrific surprises that had me flying through the words at breakneck speed.

While at work Nicole gets a disturbing phone call. One that brings her horrifying past right to her present.   Her body reacts and its only a moment before she takes off.  But her body proves that it is not always her brain that is in control, and she passes out.  Then we see that someone has been following her.  Gideon.

Gideon postiviely gives me the creeps…but only until he gives me the shivers, and I mean that in a completely good way.  This man has a lot more going on than what you’d expect just from looking at him.  I think he is a fabulously interesting character, and I’m hoping we get to see more of him in the future.

“He might have howled her name.  He might have let loose a string of profanity.  Hell, he might have done something really stupid like shouting to the ceiling the he fucking loved her.”

I loved these two in action!  I mean, if you read the book  you will absolutely see why.  There are more than sparks, there are damned electrical currents causing white hot fire.  Even without all of the other great aspects of this story, the parts where Nicole and Gideon are together are worth the price of admission.

But then on top of that you get a great story that starts in the highlands of Scotland.  There is a paranormal battle that includes changlings, magic, berserkers, and much more.  The evil is clearly evil, and the steamy scenes will make you wish you were there.  All in all, I’m impressed with this story, and I definitely think you should add it to your TBR!

Follow Lola Rayne Online

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Giveaway: Open internationally until Oct 10, 2012.  Prize: 1 Ebook (pdf, epub or mobi) of The Monster Within.  Winner has 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review/Giveaway: The Monster Within by Lola Rayne

Title: The Monster Within
A Mounting Darkness Novel
Author: Lola Rayne
Published: October 2012
Format: Ebook received for review

Sometimes the monster that haunted you as a child truly is real...

All it took was one phone call to bring Nicole Jones's life crumbling down around her. Now a nightmare she thought she'd left in her past is back, and he's not exactly bringing her candy and flowers. While fleeing, in a non-terrified fashion, she meets a menacing man in a dark alley. Then promptly passes out at his feet.

Gideon Evans hasn't exactly been having the best run of luck, but all that changes when a buxom little blonde collapses right in front of him. Or at least he thinks it has. It doesn’t take him long to realize that bombshell is an appropriate description for more than just her looks. Now he's facing several problems, including a surprising enemy, his own dark past, and a rather inconvenient case of lust. 

Can they work together to battle the nightmare that's chasing them? Or will they succumb to the monster within?

First, let me say that Lola Rayne definitely has a sense of humor, and its wicked.  If you get the opportunity make sure you read her “Acknowledgements” and the “About the author” sections.  The way she speaks in these sections makes me think I want to hang out with her and do shots until someone gets arrested.

I have a habit of only reading partial blurbs.  I read until I find something I like, then I read the book.  I often get surprised by the content inside.  That’s I was with this book, surprised by the content.  This book morphs into several things which I didn’t expect from the minute portion of the blurb I read.  I didn’t expect the fantastic high heat, the action, or the awesome paranormal aspext.  This story was full of terrific surprises that had me flying through the words at breakneck speed.

While at work Nicole gets a disturbing phone call. One that brings her horrifying past right to her present.   Her body reacts and its only a moment before she takes off.  But her body proves that it is not always her brain that is in control, and she passes out.  Then we see that someone has been following her.  Gideon.

Gideon postiviely gives me the creeps…but only until he gives me the shivers, and I mean that in a completely good way.  This man has a lot more going on than what you’d expect just from looking at him.  I think he is a fabulously interesting character, and I’m hoping we get to see more of him in the future.

“He might have howled her name.  He might have let loose a string of profanity.  Hell, he might have done something really stupid like shouting to the ceiling the he fucking loved her.”

I loved these two in action!  I mean, if you read the book  you will absolutely see why.  There are more than sparks, there are damned electrical currents causing white hot fire.  Even without all of the other great aspects of this story, the parts where Nicole and Gideon are together are worth the price of admission.

But then on top of that you get a great story that starts in the highlands of Scotland.  There is a paranormal battle that includes changlings, magic, berserkers, and much more.  The evil is clearly evil, and the steamy scenes will make you wish you were there.  All in all, I’m impressed with this story, and I definitely think you should add it to your TBR!

Follow Lola Rayne Online

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Giveaway: Open internationally until Oct 10, 2012.  Prize: 1 Ebook (pdf, epub or mobi) of The Monster Within.  Winner has 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Character Interview/Giveaway: What Hides Within by Jason Parent

What Hides Within

Jason Parent

Inside all of us, there is darkness. Inside Clive, it's tangible, and it's aching to get out.

What Hides Within tells the story of a man held captive by an unknown evil. Clive Menard is a spineless slacker leading an ordinary existence. But when Chester enters his life, it becomes far from ordinary.

A disheveled Clive stands alone in a hospital waiting room. A series of incidences have led him to undergo unnecessary neurosurgery. A voice inside Clive’s head nags him to kill the doctor.

Weeks prior, a murder investigation and an unrelated kayaking excursion set the story’s interlocking events in motion. When a remorseful killer, a bomb-happy psychopath and a mysterious widow spider converge upon Clive, they bring with them destruction and death. Clive must discover who or what is steering his very existence before he, too, is consumed by the carnage around him.

With a driven detective following his every step and a vicious killer hiding within his circle of friends, Clive must walk a narrow and dangerous path, teetering between salvation and damnation. He must confront Chester and his own demons. But is he powerless to overcome them?

Character Interview – Chester

JP:  Welcome back to Frank Talk. I’m your host for this evening’s interview, Jason Parent, author of What Hides Within. Before the break, we put the bug in your ear about our very special guest, one sure to dazzle you, enchant you, and maybe even make your skin crawl. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome . . . Chester!

I see the door backstage open as if on its own. No one comes through it. The audience stares at it, then at me. I can feel their impatience mounting. Where is she? This is so embarrassing, being stood up by a guest.

Wait a minute. I hear something, the slightest pitter-patter of feet upon the hardwood floor. The sound amplifies. The feet draw nearer, working their way up the stool beside me. They stop atop the seat.

JP:  Chester! You’re here. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming. Could you wave one or more of your legs and say “hello” to the crowd?

C:  Hello, everyone. Thank you for having me on the show, Jason.

JP:  I didn’t realize you were so small. Someone could have stepped on you. We could have had a crew member carry you in.

C:  I will suffer no such indignity from your kind.

JP:  Okay . . . So Chester, what the hell are you exactly?

C:  For the most part, I resemble a black widow spider, color variations aside.

JP:  But you are so much more than just a spider, aren’t you?

C:  How many other spiders do you know that can talk?

JP:  There’s Charlotte from E.B. White’s novel.

C:  That stupid cartoonish spider who befriends a pig? Nothing but a weak, laughable, socialistic know-it-all. Here’s a spoiler: that bitch gets what’s coming to her in the end. Don’t ever compare me to her again.

JP:  Aren’t you the hostile critter? How did they ever get a microphone on you, the tiny speck of spitfire that you are?

C:  Very delicately. Besides, I’m only hostile when it serves my purposes.

JP:  And what purposes are those?

C:  I simply want to be what I once was, what I deserve to be again.

JP:  That’s rather cryptic. Do you care to elaborate?

C:  If I told you--

JP:  You would have to kill me? How dreadfully unoriginal. I wrote you to have more wit than that.

C:  You saved all my best lines for the book, What Hides Within, available where books are sold.

JP:  A cheap and blatant plug . . . I like it! So where are you living these days?

C:  I’ve got me a new host who’s very malleable. With but a whisper, my will is done. You humans are so susceptible to inner monologue.

JP:  I bet you’re giving whoever it is an earful.

C:  That’s terrible. Besides, I don’t stay in the ear too long. I like to move in deeper where I have more control. Plus, it’s cozier, less drafty.

JP:  I’m afraid we’re running out of time. Will we be seeing you again?

C:  That’s up to you. But darkness is everywhere. I’ll be around. The next time that voice inside your head urges you to act upon your most deviant desires, answer its call. It could be me. And if it is and you don’t do as I say, you’ll soon wish you had . . . if you live long enough.

Giveaway: Open internationally until Oct 9, 2012.  Prize: 1 Ebook (pdf, epub or mobi) of What Hides Within.  Winner has 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Character Interview/Giveaway: What Hides Within by Jason Parent

What Hides Within

Jason Parent

Inside all of us, there is darkness. Inside Clive, it's tangible, and it's aching to get out.

What Hides Within tells the story of a man held captive by an unknown evil. Clive Menard is a spineless slacker leading an ordinary existence. But when Chester enters his life, it becomes far from ordinary.

A disheveled Clive stands alone in a hospital waiting room. A series of incidences have led him to undergo unnecessary neurosurgery. A voice inside Clive’s head nags him to kill the doctor.

Weeks prior, a murder investigation and an unrelated kayaking excursion set the story’s interlocking events in motion. When a remorseful killer, a bomb-happy psychopath and a mysterious widow spider converge upon Clive, they bring with them destruction and death. Clive must discover who or what is steering his very existence before he, too, is consumed by the carnage around him.

With a driven detective following his every step and a vicious killer hiding within his circle of friends, Clive must walk a narrow and dangerous path, teetering between salvation and damnation. He must confront Chester and his own demons. But is he powerless to overcome them?

Character Interview – Chester

JP:  Welcome back to Frank Talk. I’m your host for this evening’s interview, Jason Parent, author of What Hides Within. Before the break, we put the bug in your ear about our very special guest, one sure to dazzle you, enchant you, and maybe even make your skin crawl. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome . . . Chester!

I see the door backstage open as if on its own. No one comes through it. The audience stares at it, then at me. I can feel their impatience mounting. Where is she? This is so embarrassing, being stood up by a guest.

Wait a minute. I hear something, the slightest pitter-patter of feet upon the hardwood floor. The sound amplifies. The feet draw nearer, working their way up the stool beside me. They stop atop the seat.

JP:  Chester! You’re here. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming. Could you wave one or more of your legs and say “hello” to the crowd?

C:  Hello, everyone. Thank you for having me on the show, Jason.

JP:  I didn’t realize you were so small. Someone could have stepped on you. We could have had a crew member carry you in.

C:  I will suffer no such indignity from your kind.

JP:  Okay . . . So Chester, what the hell are you exactly?

C:  For the most part, I resemble a black widow spider, color variations aside.

JP:  But you are so much more than just a spider, aren’t you?

C:  How many other spiders do you know that can talk?

JP:  There’s Charlotte from E.B. White’s novel.

C:  That stupid cartoonish spider who befriends a pig? Nothing but a weak, laughable, socialistic know-it-all. Here’s a spoiler: that bitch gets what’s coming to her in the end. Don’t ever compare me to her again.

JP:  Aren’t you the hostile critter? How did they ever get a microphone on you, the tiny speck of spitfire that you are?

C:  Very delicately. Besides, I’m only hostile when it serves my purposes.

JP:  And what purposes are those?

C:  I simply want to be what I once was, what I deserve to be again.

JP:  That’s rather cryptic. Do you care to elaborate?

C:  If I told you--

JP:  You would have to kill me? How dreadfully unoriginal. I wrote you to have more wit than that.

C:  You saved all my best lines for the book, What Hides Within, available where books are sold.

JP:  A cheap and blatant plug . . . I like it! So where are you living these days?

C:  I’ve got me a new host who’s very malleable. With but a whisper, my will is done. You humans are so susceptible to inner monologue.

JP:  I bet you’re giving whoever it is an earful.

C:  That’s terrible. Besides, I don’t stay in the ear too long. I like to move in deeper where I have more control. Plus, it’s cozier, less drafty.

JP:  I’m afraid we’re running out of time. Will we be seeing you again?

C:  That’s up to you. But darkness is everywhere. I’ll be around. The next time that voice inside your head urges you to act upon your most deviant desires, answer its call. It could be me. And if it is and you don’t do as I say, you’ll soon wish you had . . . if you live long enough.

Giveaway: Open internationally until Oct 9, 2012.  Prize: 1 Ebook (pdf, epub or mobi) of What Hides Within.  Winner has 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway